The weathered concrete of the basement is painted with brushstrokes of rust and blood: an evidential mural of violence unfettered.
The only interruption of the otherwise consistent color scheme is the vibrancy of blood and the neon of police lights, making these moments all the more jarring. But this idyllic '70s suburbia is corrupted by Derrickson’s horror. Warm browns and oranges, film grain, and filtered light flood the screen. Stylistically, the film is nostalgic, reminiscent of vintage photographs and the era of striped baby tees, flared jeans, and The Ramones.
When Finney ( Mason Thames) becomes the next captive, held in a soundproof basement, he begins to receive phone calls from The Grabber’s previous victims through a disconnected landline. Based on the short story of the same name, written by Joe Hill, the son of Stephen King, 'The Black Phone' chronicles a suspenseful tale of The Grabber, a child killer who snatches teen boys in broad daylight never to be seen again.
